Judi Dench has always had a fear of wriggly creatures, specifically snakes, stemming from a childhood incident with a worm. While preparing for her role in the National Theatre's production of 'Antony and Cleopatra,' she faced her fears head-on when informed of live snakes being used on stage. To cope, her late husband suggested naming them, which helped alleviate her anxiety. Despite the snakes only being garter snakes, a mishap occurred when one fell from her wig during a bow, momentarily intensifying her fear.
I came home and told Michael about the snakes, Dench told BBC Radio 4, in a new documentary, Roleplay, to be broadcast on 24 February.
Even though the three starring reptiles were garter snakes, which are quite small and not of significant danger to humans, Dench felt more at ease with the nicknames, as if they were pets.
After Cleopatra's suicide, her body was then carried, on high, by servants into the audience before returning on stage for the curtain call.
One night, the boys taking me kept hissing, Dench said. I was wondering what on earth was going on.
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